Roman Polanski to be placed under house arrest

FRENCH PRESS REVIEW: Several French papers lead with Roman Polanski. The film director is to be placed under house arrest in his Swiss residence pending deportation to the US on rape charges dating back 30 years.

Libération’s editorial is relatively clement with regard to Roman Polanski and what fate he should face. The director is to stand trial in the US for the rape of a 13-year-old girl three decades ago. The paper asks whether his release from prison to be placed under house arrest in Switzerland is a privilege linked to his status and fame. “In all honesty, no,” the paper says, in response to its own question. “Everyone can see he represents no threat to society. His victim asked on a number of occasions for the incident to be left in the past…The spirit of the law in most civilized countries would confer a moral right for the incident to be forgotten given the amount of time that has passed.”

Libération does recognize that many do want to see him stand trial however.
“He should go on trial but the court should take into account the time that has passed since the crime.”